FELOMINO “PHIL” ORITA, son of Mariano and Nettie (Costa) Orita, was born August, 16, 1938, in Kohala, Hawaii, and departed this life June 12, 2026, at his home in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-seven years.
Phil grew up on the sugar cane plantation of North Kohala. As a young boy, he shined shoes for twenty-five cents. However, he didn’t own his own pair until the eighth grade. In high school, he played football, basketball, baseball, ran track and boxed. He joined the National Guard his junior year and after graduating from Kohala High School, Phil joined the United States Army on July 4, 1957.
Phil met the love of his life, Gay Verlea Hawkins, on a blind date on October 10, 1959, and the two wed May 7, 1960. During their sixty plus years of marriage, they were blessed with four children, thirteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and many more that called him Dad or Grandpa. In 1975, the Ohana Farm was purchased with Nanaw and Papa and Brother Jim.
In 1987, he finally retired from the Armed Forces as a CSM E-9, with over thirty years of active duty and two tours in Vietnam, and then moved to the Ohana Farm. With the completion of an Associate’s Degree in Business he began working at the Kiesewetter Farm. From there, he went to food service management at Ft. Leonard Wood followed by running the cafeteria at Stoutland School. He proceeded to run the Senior Center Kitchen in Stoutland and then Lebanon. He then delivered meals on wheels for many years until the age of eighty-one.
Throughout his life he enjoyed coaching and refereeing football, baseball, softball and volleyball. He and Gay enjoyed teaching the Hawaiian culture which encompassed luaus for special family events. He was very active in the VFW Auxiliary.
Phil enjoyed the fellowship of being a part of the Knights of Columbus, a Eucharistic minister and a youth educator of the Catholic faith.
Among his many hobbies he enjoyed bowling, camping, hunting, swimming, gardening, and floats on the river. Out of all his hobbies he felt most at home in the water, whether it was on the river or in the sea, trout lining, crabbing, throwing net or simply just fishing.
But what really made Phil exceptional was the love and devotion to his family and friends.
Phil is survived by his children, Cynthia T. Orita of Richland, MO, Christine B. Concepcion (John CW3 R) of Richland, MO, Phillip K. Orita (Khamphiou) of Lebanon, MO and Nanilehua O. Wilde (James, Jr.) of Nevada, MO; grandchildren, Jude Borske (Harrison), Mindy Joe Berry, Jennifer May Range (John), Danielle Elanea Shelter (Sam), Amethyst Renee Allee, Justice Molokai Orita, 1SG John Salas Concepcion II (Dana), Kimo Felomino Concepcion, Aliikai Christopher Concepcion, Yok Phongvilay, Somphu Phongvilay, Lanianela Westover (Jonathan) and Keala Pomokai Wilde, MaKananoakua Wilde; Great-Grandchildren, Serenity Skye Halstead, Amethyst Michelle Miller, Alexis Range, Makenna Range, John David Range, Jr., Kyle Shelter, Kaleb Shelter, Warren Phillip Allee, Curtis Austin Allee, Helcuna, Rhiannon and Evangeline Copeland, Madalyn Claire Concepcion, Keilana Iyn Concepcion, Nalani Joe Concepcion, Rosie Verlea Besanceney, Lila Orita Record; one Great-Great-Grandchild, Leilani Skye Halstead; his sister, Lynn Campbell; Brother-in-law, James Hawkins; sister-in-law, Donna Hawkins; many other relatives and dear friends.
Those preceding him in death include his parents, his wife Gay Orita, who passed away December 15, 2020, siblings, Gloria, Fred and Nando, and brothers-in-law, Al Hawkins and Leo Campbell.
Phil was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Though we will miss him here, what a wonderful reunion he and Gay must be sharing.
Funeral Mass for Phil Orita was held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church with Father Alan Saunders officiating. Burial was in Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Waynesville with military honors by the United States Army. A Rosary Service was held at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, by Knights of Columbus, at Shadel’s Colonial Chapel.
Memorials have been suggested in memory of Phil to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, or to Hazelgreen Cemetery. Donations can be left at or mailed to Shadel’s Colonial Chapel, P.O. Box 948, Lebanon, Missouri 65536.
